New car - new problem. Car won't start...

[Dag]

87' 325e all stock. 5spd. 157xxx miles.

Motor started fine yesterday and car ran fine while I test drove it(just bought it). Started fine this morning and ran fine all the way to work(40min).

Go to move my car real quick and when I start it, it picks up and then stalls. Crank it over again and it just tries to turn over. Crank it over again with the gas all the way down and it catches thens stalls. Does this for about 5 more times with puffs of black smoke coming out the exhaust. Sixth try it fires up and is sputtering but staying alive enought to move the car while nursing the throttle.

What the hell?

A search for "stalling" got me one good topic with some suggestions, but the OP never posted his findings.

[Dag]

After spending some time on some other boards, it seems as though it could be a multitude of issues however I haven't been able to find a consistant problem solver.

[jlevie]

That's because there are a number of possible causes. Fixing the car will be a matter of elimiating possible causes.

[Dag]

Understood. What I'm looking for mostly is the best place to start. No sense in spending the most amount of money to find out it was a free or low cost fix.

[Dag]

Taking the car to 2NG today. We'll see what happens.

[cbouchez]

fuel filter?

[Dag]

So dropped it off, and of course the car wouldn't replicate the problem while they had it. Ran through the scenario and they determined that since the engine is flooding and running rich, it most likely wouldn't be the fuel filter(starving the motor).

I notice tonight, as the car ran shitty the entire drive home instead of just for a bit that the MPG gauge works in reverse when the car is running shitty and stalling.

I.e. It will read 40+ MPG when I'm WOT, and 0 MPG when I'm stopped.

We figger its the DME or ECU or whatever you call the "brain". So I ordered one up, should be here tomorrow. We'll see if that solves it.

[abepark]

check the crank position sensor, whats the resistance of it? hit the relays and check for corrosion on the contacts. check fuel pressure. DME's on these cars are pretty hard to fubar, and if it was running fine one day and not the other I would def rule the DME out of the equation (wiring is a whole different issue).

[DCColegrove]

With those symptoms I'd start with inspecting the HT Cap and Rotor.

[Dag]

Great information guys. The DME consistant runs shitty as of today. Ran shitty all the way to work, and shitty all the way home. I just got this car three days ago. So it's consistency on a lengthy basis has yet to be determined. And I hope not to determine it, if you get my drift.

I got a DME for deals, so I'll throw it in and see what happens. If that doesn't solve it, then I'm taking the info you guys just gave me and headin' back to 2ng.

Thanks!

[Dag]

Still waiting on my DME.

More symptoms today...

Car didn't stall today once, but ran shitty all day. When i went WOT, it would sputter a few times then pick up strong. Would do it most of the time. But sometimes, it would just pull fine. The gas milliage is terrible. I've drivin probly 75 miles since yesterday morning at 7am, and tonight at 6pm. Gone through half a tank.

[cbouchez]

bad gad milage could be the oxygen sensor.

[Dag]

Shit.

[abepark]

unplug o2 sensor and see if it runs any better or worse

[Dag]

Thank you. Where is the 02 sensor located at?

I = BMW noob.